Tube Home Theater PreAmp?

As far as I know DVD Players do not decode the DTS audio track but do DD just fine. I ran digital out to the HT processor for years, then fooling around w/ the audio outs of my DVD player I discovered how MUCH smoother, so much LESS harshness, less edge AND I get ALL the dynamics from the DD track (because I'm running all 5.1 channels - no downmixing of the channels). This was a fundemental change and I do not see ever going back to digital out to a processor.

Sorry for resurrecting this thread.

If what Drcruz said was indeed true, the word would indeed be spreading all around about not needing an outboard av pre-pro! This is not the case in my experiences. If someone want's to invite me over to check out the superiority of their system "without using an outboard pre-pro for dd/dts)", and then let me try a "swap-out" to compare, I'm there!!! It just simply doesn't do it right from my experiences with hundreds of these setups.

Flrnlamb,

I re-read my post and I counted the use of the word "I" (me, myself, I) 6 times. No where in my post do I say that "Flrnlamb is wrong" OR "everyone else should do what 'I' do". I just wrote down "my" personal experience.

Also, it seemed to me that reviews of DVD/Universal Players focus on the "anolog" audio outs and not the digital out. Which is one of the reasons "I" did the experiment.

I live in Oceanside California. You can come and laugh at my system anytime you want (bring a good movie and "I'll" buy the Guiness). AND I'm serious, when you see my system you'll get a chuckle (inexpensive system w/ NO WAF for major improvements)

To my mind, there is only one answer: SUPRATK!! Either a Supratek CHENIN model tube preamp, at $2900 with phono stage, or the less expensive CHARDONEY, without phono stage, at $2100. These are world class preamps at VERY reasonable prices. They will definitely make your system sing. Both have the surround sound bypass feature that you'll need.

Good luck and Godspeed, waltcertain@gmail.com

Alll tube umti channel pres do not have DA conversion, digital decoding, nor bass mgmt: so if you go this route your DVD player will have to do this. Not a bad thing but bear in mind when thinking thru the system.